Sentencing ‘pushed back’ in North Sea bribery case

The sentencing of North Sea logistics executives convicted of bribery has been pushed back into 2019.

Last month, a £16 million bribery case involving FH Bertling resulted in the conviction of nine people.

However, a spokesman for the firm confirmed today that sentencing has been pushed back to January 3 2019.

Chris Brooks, head of compliance at FH Bertling, said: “I’ve been told that it will now take place in January.”

The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) confirmed in November that shipping executives Stephen Emler and Giuseppe Morreale pleaded guilty for their part in a corrupt scheme to secure a ConocoPhillips freight forwarding contract.

The deal was worth over £16m for FH Bertling as part of the Jasmine North Sea oil exploration project.

Jasmine lies close to ConocoPhillips’ producing fields, Jade and Judy.